Northeastern Illinois University vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Deciding between Northeastern Illinois University and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Northeastern Illinois University
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northeastern Illinois University Chicago, IL
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, MN
  • Setting
  • Northeastern Illinois University Large City
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Northeastern Illinois University 5,734
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 4,505
  • Type
  • Northeastern Illinois University Public 4 Year
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northeastern Illinois University #670
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northeastern Illinois University -
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Northeastern Illinois University Non-profit
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Non-profit
  • Website
  • Northeastern Illinois University neiu.edu
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota smumn.edu
  • Team Colors
  • Northeastern Illinois University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northeastern Illinois University $12,383
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northeastern Illinois University $22,726
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Room & Board
  • Northeastern Illinois University $10,390
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $11,200
  • Average Net Price
  • Northeastern Illinois University $14,140
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $22,032
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northeastern Illinois University $12,876
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $35,348
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northeastern Illinois University 87%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 100%
  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • Northeastern Illinois University Calculate
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Calculate
  • Applied
  • Northeastern Illinois University 8,955
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,441
  • Admitted
  • Northeastern Illinois University 6,680
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,337
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northeastern Illinois University 74.6%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 92.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Northeastern Illinois University 8.5%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northeastern Illinois University 910
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northeastern Illinois University 18
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northeastern Illinois University 3.1
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3.49
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northeastern Illinois University B
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northeastern Illinois University Extremely Easy
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northeastern Illinois University
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • ACT Range
  • Northeastern Illinois University 15/21
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • SAT Range
  • Northeastern Illinois University 810/1010
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northeastern Illinois University Test-free
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Northeastern Illinois University Jul 15, 2027
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northeastern Illinois University 9:1
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northeastern Illinois University
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
    • Business (48%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Biology (5%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northeastern Illinois University 23%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 62%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northeastern Illinois University $40,000
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $48,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northeastern Illinois University 56%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northeastern Illinois University $14,500
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northeastern Illinois University $149
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $240
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northeastern Illinois University 40%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 37%
  • % Women
  • Northeastern Illinois University 60%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northeastern Illinois University Very High
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Low
  • HBCU
  • Northeastern Illinois University No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • % White
  • Northeastern Illinois University 33%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 59%
  • % Asian
  • Northeastern Illinois University 9%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 2%
  • % Black
  • Northeastern Illinois University 10%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northeastern Illinois University 37%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 5%
  • % Native American
  • Northeastern Illinois University 0%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northeastern Illinois University 0%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northeastern Illinois University 2%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1%
  • % International
  • Northeastern Illinois University 4%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northeastern Illinois University 3%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 23%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northeastern Illinois University 98%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northeastern Illinois University 1%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 33%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Northeastern Illinois University No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Northeastern Illinois University No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • Meal Plan
  • Northeastern Illinois University No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Northeastern Illinois University No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Northeastern Illinois University Yes
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • Learn More
  • Northeastern Illinois University Details
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, IL with Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Winona, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northeastern Illinois University is larger than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota based on total student enrollment (5,734 students vs. 4,505 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northeastern Illinois University is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is in Winona, MN (Distant Town setting).
  • Northeastern Illinois University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northeastern Illinois University 9:1; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1.

Northeastern Illinois University vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northeastern Illinois University or Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northeastern Illinois University than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota ($14,140 vs. $22,032).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern Illinois University are 7.2% lower than at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota ($10,390 vs. $11,200).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is 264% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northeastern Illinois University (about $32,697 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $12,383.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 98.4% higher at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at Northeastern Illinois University (about $22,354 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $22,726.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at Northeastern Illinois University (100% vs. 87%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students is 174.5% larger than aid received by Northeastern Illinois University students ($35,348 vs. $12,876).

Northeastern Illinois University vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northeastern Illinois University or Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and Northeastern Illinois University.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern Illinois University 810/1010.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern Illinois University 15/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northeastern Illinois University - Test-free; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Northeastern Illinois University Jul 15, 2027; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at Northeastern Illinois University (3.1).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota has a higher acceptance rate (92.8%) than Northeastern Illinois University (74.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.5% at Northeastern Illinois University vs. 18.8% at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

Northeastern Illinois University vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northeastern Illinois University and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than Northeastern Illinois University's (23%).
  • Graduates from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than Northeastern Illinois University graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,400 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Northeastern Illinois University graduates have a $8,750 lower median loan debt than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates ($14,500 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Northeastern Illinois University graduates have an estimated $91 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates ($149 vs. $240).
  • More Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 56%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.